🥇 BANNER Chasing the dozer's and popping cherries, First US Gold Coin 1853-0 + a little Seated

[bonepicker]

Well tonight I finally dug my first gold coin, and it only took 7+ years.
I have been hunting a street tear-out the last 2 weekends, and recently they have started bringing in the limestone.
I couldn't wait until the weekend to get back over there, because I was afraid the backfill would be completed due to heavy rains predicted for this Saturday.
I normally don't night hunt, but I just had to make sure I could hit this spot at least one more time.
So I get over there this afternoon, and sure enough they are moving dirt. The whole stretch is almost completely covered up with crushed stone.
The workers were gone at dark. This site is in the downtown district. So the chatter is bad.
I decided to run 18k to help with the noise. I do not run 18k a lot, but it helps quiet things down, and with all the talk about hi frequencies lately, I figured why not Max the 9" LF coil out.
So after about 30 minutes I get a seated dime, and that was enough to satisfy me, and make me feel the trip was worth while. Second seated dime from this site.
About 30 minutes later I get a low tone, and im thinking nickel. I have dug 3 shield nickels out of here, so far.
I open the hole and I see a tiny shiny disk. I didn't realize how small a one dollar gold coin would actually be, so I am thinking what is this tiny piece of junk. Then wait, no freakin way. Could it be?? Yes it is! 1853-0 One Dollar Gold Coin. Being from the south, I really love seeing that 0 mint-mark.
View attachment 1658223

A few cleaned up pics, to compare size with seated dime.


I just cant get over how small this one dollar gold piece is.


A couple crusty nickels and an interesting lead seal.


Had to stop off and pick up a 32" Shrimp Po-boy to celebrate with.

 

[toasted]

Thanks for the compliment & info toasted.
I have been curious/wondering what time frame this was dropped.
Most of the coins have been dating to the 1880's, but the town/area imhunting in goes back a lot further.

Its possible it was dropped in the 1880s. It wasnt until the late 1870s that gold and even silver coins came out of hiding from the economic disturbance of the Civil War. But by then most preffered paper over gold coins for larger transactions in all but the far west. Its why gold coins are so hard to find anywhere else so big congrats. Perhaps the New Orleans gold dollars were never recalled for melting and continued to circulate much longer in the south. It doesnt look to have much wear though. Any cleaned up pics?

 

[bonepicker]

Congrats on scoring the gold. That’s everyone’s dream.

You’ve done well when a seated coin is a distant second.

Good luck to you.

Thanks Tom, always a pleasure to hear from ya.
The seated would have made the trip worth while. That gold coin sure caught me off guard.​

Its possible it was dropped in the 1880s. It wasnt until the late 1870s that gold and even silver coins came out of hiding from the economic disturbance of the Civil War. But by then most preffered paper over gold coins for larger transactions in all but the far west. Its why gold coins are so hard to find anywhere else so big congrats. Perhaps the New Orleans gold dollars were never recalled for melting and continued to circulate much longer in the south. It doesnt look to have much wear though. Any cleaned up pics?

Thanks again for the info toasted. No cleaned up pics yet. I just got home from work a little while ago. Still unsure on whether to remove more dirt, or just leave it in dug condition. The dirt seems to give it more character. I suppose it is hard to nail down a dropped-date. This is the first item I can say is pre-1860 from this tear-out, but I have dug older stuff from other sites very nearby. A couple weeks ago I dug a 1843 LC a couple hundred yards away. LC's are pretty uncommon down here in the south.

 

[Truth]

Thanks Tom, always a pleasure to hear from ya.
The seated would have made the trip worth while. That gold coin sure caught me off guard.​

Thanks again for the info toasted. No cleaned up pics yet. I just got home from work a little while ago. Still unsure on whether to remove more dirt, or just leave it in dug condition. The dirt seems to give it more character. I suppose it is hard to nail down a dropped-date. This is the first item I can say is pre-1860 from this tear-out, but I have dug older stuff from other sites very nearby. A couple weeks ago I dug a 1843 LC a couple hundred yards away. LC's are pretty uncommon down here in the south.

I’ve never found one LC I truly believe no one except your guy had one down here and he loses it go figure.

I had to buy my New Orleans gold coin. Boy I’m I a sucker.

 

[Possum]

Congrats again BP, thanks for sharing!!! I think you deserve...

​

"D"

 

[trdking]

I say Banner as well. What a great coin!

 

[Doc Arey]

Banner Gold!

 

[Lord Verdigris]

Wow. Sweet gold. I need one someday! 🤑[emoji106]

 

[adit]

Beautiful gold coin !
That is one serious size sandwich !

 

[Silvermonkey]

Unreal finds!!!! Congratulations on an epip hunt with equally epic finds!!!!

 

[creskol]

You keep the coins and give me that sammich ! Nice batch of goodies!

 

[A2coins]

Banner good for you you deserve it!!!!!!

 

[Whyme]

Oh man super awesome find! Great detail too! Banner! Congrats!

 

[JeffInMass]

Congrats on that awesome gold dollar! My banner vote is in, and "ONLY" took 7+ years?? I've been at it for 27 years, thousands of old coins, none gold!

 

[Squirrel322]

Congratulations on a beautiful gold coin!! Very awesome!!!

 

[jewelerguy]

congrats on the gold! that 32" inch sandwich is crazy, but sure looks good

 

[lairmo]

Awesome!!! I had to look at this post before I ate anything didn't I? Now I'm hungry in more ways than one!!!

 

[dts52]

Definitely Banner!
HH
dts

 

[MikesDiggins]

$1.00 Gold, Awsome find. Banner

 

[sliverslave]

Super sweet way to go

 

[Joe-Dirt]

Awesome gold!! Still has that just dug look to it, got my banner vote, but it will cost you a bite of that po boy(: